Monetary Policy
Richard Cooper calls for monetary policy co-ordination to smooth global exchange rates
Harvard professor proposes internationally-agreed targets and gradual capital controls to mitigate worst effects of fluctuating exchange rates
Serbia central bank takes aim at food price volatility to bring inflation in line
Agricultural commodity price volatility accounted for more than two-thirds of headline inflation volatility in 2013, the central bank says, leading it to seek measures to combat it
IMF calls on Fed to formally explain policy normalisation strategy
IMF stresses need for 'greater clarity' on how Fed intends to exit accommodative policy stance; warns use of Fed funds rate could 'pose challenge' amid balance sheet reduction
Bank of England 'edges closer' to rate rise
Mark Carney notes ‘quickest job creation on record' since he took office last July amid confusing labour data; market practitioners say likelihood of a rate hike this year is rising
Cœuré spells out difficulties of global monetary policy co-ordination
European Central Bank’s Benoît Cœuré says he is 'not convinced' the existing approach to co-ordination should be overhauled; rejects feasibility of a 'global planner'
‘Shadow' Fed funds rate suggests Fed should have loosened more following crisis
Kansas City Fed study says Fed should have been more active in early stage of ‘Great Recession' but also notes policy became ‘considerably' more accommodative over time
IMF staff note: Structural reforms 'more desirable' than nominal wage cuts in Europe
International Monetary Fund staff note says ‘many reforms’ are still needed in deficit countries; highlights benefits of greater fiscal integration in longer term
RBA governor questions impact of QE on risk-taking in real economy
Glenn Stevens says it is ‘hard to read’ whether the effects of QE are filtering through to the real economy; business capital spending remains low in many major economies
The reorientation of central bank policy objectives
In this sponsored feature, Peter Warburton and Joanna Davies discuss how the policy challenges for central banks have been transformed in the aftermath of the global financial crisis
UK parliamentary report calls currency union with independent Scotland a ‘dead parrot'
There will be ‘no currency union of any kind - no ifs, no buts, no fudges, no deals', says chair of Scottish Affairs committee
BoJ board members fear structural problems behind sluggish exports
A ‘few’ members of the policy board are concerned that competitiveness issues are to blame for slow growth in Japanese exports
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Start policy normalisation now!
Policy changes are needed to reduce the chances of another recession
Weidmann: ECB monetary policy has ‘done its bit', fiscal discipline must prevail
Deutsche Bundesbank president Jens Weidmann says central bank independence could be threatened by lax fiscal policy; says ECB is at 'outer edge of its mandate'
Lagarde: monetary and fiscal policy must nurture eurozone back to growth
IMF managing director Christine Lagarde warns Europe of vicious cycle of economic decline if low inflation, high debt and high unemployment persist
South Sudan to East African Community: ‘do not reject us’
East African Community sends 'high level technical mission' to South Sudan in first step of a accession process which it expects will be 'tedious'
Fed's Fisher warns macro-prudential ‘Maginot Line' will not keep out another crash
Dallas Fed president Richard Fisher says macro-prudential policy will not be enough to preserve financial stability - calling for a shrinking of the Fed's balance sheet starting in October
Riksbank minutes reveal dispute over IMF and BIS advice
Top Swedish central bankers debate the relevance of IMF and BIS advice for monetary policy to fight financial instability; question value of input from officials that do not set policy themselves
Yellen endorses calls for ‘community banker' on Fed board
Fed chair Janet Yellen says legislating to earmark seats on the board would be a mistake, but agrees the board would be improved by the addition of a community banker
RBA sees subdued wage growth ‘for some time’
Minutes from latest board meeting reveal discussion on labour market; board members say conditions have improved ‘a little’ but wage growth remains ‘subdued’
Lockhart needs higher wage growth and participation before raising rates
Atlanta Fed president says firmer wage growth and a higher participation rate are needed before the Federal Open Market Committee should raise interest rates
IMF steps up call for QE in Europe
The European Central Bank should launch a large-scale asset purchase programme if inflation does not pick up; IMF staffers untroubled by risk of asset bubbles
ECB finds Phillips curve 'insufficient’ to forecast inflation
Article in latest ECB monthly bulletin finds evidence of a ‘curve-type relationship’ between inflation and economic slack, but the specification is ‘subject to considerable uncertainty’
Central banks wrong to try and close output gap, says RBNZ's McDermott
Reserve Bank of New Zealand assistant governor John McDermott says the role of monetary policy is to keep inflation predictably low, not try and boost output
Fed set to finish taper in October
FOMC mulls decision on whether to raise Fed funds rate or shrink balance sheet first before year-end; fears either strategy could jeopardise Fed's communication efforts